Things to do in Paris

J

JimmyPop

Senior member
 Glasgow
I'm heading off to Paris in a couple of weeks with the other half. I've only been on a student budget before and the girlfriend has never been. Apart from all the obvious landmarks/tourist stops, can anyone suggest other highlights which you wouldn't normally think about? We've already booked a meal in one of the restaurants in the Eiffel Tower (not the ridiculously expensive one!), but trying to think of less obvious things to do.

And no, proposing is not an option! One of my good friends proposed last year in Paris so I've told her we can't be seen to be copycats. My best mate has also just got engaged in December so we can't steal the limelight from him! I'm going to make sure I only take slip-on shoes so I don't have to kneel down to tie my laces at any point and have an awkward moment...
 
Interesting place to walk round, quite a few famous people "there" and it's free
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A8re_Lachaise_Cemetery
 
I can 2nd Père Lachaise......really interesting.

Also, you cannot beat a walk along the Seine. Very interesting. Or even take in one of the boat trips.

I was disappointed by Notre Dame Cathedral to be honest. Very dingy and grey.

The "butte" of Montmatre is interesting too. It is about 140mtrs high and topped by the Sacre Coeur. Great views at dusk or sunrise.

The gardens by the Louvre are lovely at certain times of year....can't vouch for this time of year.

56th floor of Montparnasse56 for spectacular views. Also, nice cafes and interesting shops in the area. It is off the usual tourist trail too
 
Eiffel tower as you mentioned but climb the first 2 stages and do it as sunset approaches get to the top at dark and see the blue lasers shining out across the city - awesome. Buy tickets online or get to stage 2 and then upgrade to the lift and avoid the queue
Try the Catacombs, an underground section of former mines lined with skeletons , skulls, etc. Very odd
Vertical wall at the Musee du Quai Branly is something different
A drink in the bar at the George V hotel is you want to be extravagant. Only place I know where they allocate you a bar stool or seat :rofl:
Pompidou Centre has some interesting things depending on what's on at the time
Dinner in Pershing Hall Hotel - Another Patrick Leblanc vertical garden makes it amazing place

Any more?

One of the advantages of working in Paris on a regular basis :)
 
Take a walk through the Marais district which has become very trendy these days. It's full of little boutiques and art shops.
Stop for a coffee at one of the cafés in the Place Vosges, then cross over the Seine to Isle de la Cité.
Have a look at Notre Dame and go inside to see the Rose window, then climb the bell tower - just like Quasimodo.
Behind Notre Dame you will find one of the oldest restaurants in Paris Au Vieux Paris d'Arcole. When choosing your wine here, you will be invited down to the cellar to choose from the racks - best to make a reservation.
 
teamemmenracing said:
Moulin Rouge ..... :D
defo a good night out
Click to expand...

Tourist rip-off - it's so touristy, it's naff. :cry:

Did you know that all museums are free on the first Sunday of each month? :thumbsup:
 
Rue Cler has fantastic food shops. Mussee d'Orsay is well worth a visit without risking the sensory overload that the Louvre can cause. The Marmottan-Monet museum has a great collection without the crowds of the other museums. Sainte Chapelle is not a dreary as Notre Dame and very close to it. Have fun.
 
Don't bother trying to see the Moaner Lisa you will be standing behind 50 Japanese tourists taking photos of it . By the way its no bigger then A4 piece of paper but the Le Louve is worth a look but dont hang about too much its a big big place and could take you all day.
 
'Le Bilboquet' on Rue Saint-Benoît just off Boulevard Saint-Germain is a fantastic jazz club. I've not been for a few years, and I've heard various rumours about it having closed or changed management. This link would suggest otherwise:
http://www.stay.com/paris/bar-pub/9333/le-bilboquet/
If you make it to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, try to go to mass, the atmosphere is incredible. One of the best places from which to photograph the church is from the top of the Eiffel Tower on a clear night. The stone is beautifully illuminated and really stands out against the city and the night sky.
 
JimmyPop said:
I'm heading off to Paris in a couple of weeks with the other half. I've only been on a student budget before and the girlfriend has never been. Apart from all the obvious landmarks/tourist stops, can anyone suggest other highlights which you wouldn't normally think about? We've already booked a meal in one of the restaurants in the Eiffel Tower (not the ridiculously expensive one!), but trying to think of less obvious things to do.

And no, proposing is not an option! One of my good friends proposed last year in Paris so I've told her we can't be seen to be copycats. My best mate has also just got engaged in December so we can't steal the limelight from him! I'm going to make sure I only take slip-on shoes so I don't have to kneel down to tie my laces at any point and have an awkward moment...
Click to expand...

A super thing to do is to rent bikes for your transport around town (you pick it up at point "A" then leave it at point "B" then after your sightseeing in that area pick up another one at point "B" [or the next station] .... and so on you get the idea :)) . Unfortunately this time of year it is too cool for it I think. We did it in the summer and it was fantastic.

Here is the LINK read all about it ----->http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-bike-rentals.htm


Have a good time in Paris when you get there :)

Cheers, Rolf-Dieter
 
I'd echo that Sacre Coeur is great in the evening. The best free spot in Paris, take some food, sit on the steps. A guy with a bucket of ice will probably walk up and sell you a bottle of cold beer...

There are is often someone doing a side show or similar.

Pompidou Centre used to be pretty good too.

If I remember correctly (and I cannot remember the details fully - old age!) take the metro to La Defense. Not much there, but good for a few photos, but there is a big 'straight' on the metro line and you do reach 'warp speed' (excellent :D ).

Also, do the Lourve, but not really for the Mona lisa, as mentioned earlier it's a let down. The rest of the museum is pretty good though.

Another good 'free time' - walk from Arc de triumph, Champs Elyees, etc.

Buy some bread and wine, just watch the world pass by. :wink:
 
Not a big fan of the bikes - Brits cycling generally without helmets on the wrong side of the road in Paris streets is a recipe for disaster. Sure cycling on sunny traffic free tracks or permitted park paths in Summer is neat if oyu can find a bike.

So bad that a network of specialist solicitors now exist in cities with just such schemes to sue :thumbsdown:

30 minute limit to change bikes is a pita too. Frankly I just walk, see more, stop in cafe's and watch life. If you need to change areas metro or a cab.
 
Rolf-Dieter said:
A super thing to do is to rent bikes for your transport around town (you pick it up at point "A" then leave it at point "B" then after your sightseeing in that area pick up another one at point "B" [or the next station] .... and so on you get the idea :)) . Unfortunately this time of year it is too cool for it I think. We did it in the summer and it was fantastic.

Here is the LINK read all about it ----->http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-bike-rentals.htm


Have a good time in Paris when you get there :)

Cheers, Rolf-Dieter
Click to expand...

Can give you a good firm for accident cover and life insurance...... :thumbsup: :rofl:
 
AlanJ said:
Rolf-Dieter said:
A super thing to do is to rent bikes for your transport around town (you pick it up at point "A" then leave it at point "B" then after your sightseeing in that area pick up another one at point "B" [or the next station] .... and so on you get the idea :)) . Unfortunately this time of year it is too cool for it I think. We did it in the summer and it was fantastic.

Here is the LINK read all about it ----->http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/articles/paris-bike-rentals.htm


Have a good time in Paris when you get there :)

Cheers, Rolf-Dieter
Click to expand...

Can give you a good firm for accident cover and life insurance...... :thumbsup: :rofl:
Click to expand...
And I know a few surgeons... :D
 
Defiantly take the metro to Concorde and walk along the Seine back down to the lourve, if you cross the river on pont neuf then walk down to st michelle metro there is a load of lovely cheap restaurants there. If your not going for long I would buy the "Carne" tickets for the metro, basically you get 10 tickets for around 11 euros!

The Pantheon is an impressive building to take a look at, you can then walk behind it down to Rue Mouffetard where there are a load of nice little bars.

Bastielle is a good area too if you want to go for a coffee and watch the world go by. There is also a really interesting bar not far from the station on Rue Daval, there is a carving of The virgin Mary in the window.....definatly worth taking a toilet break in that pub :thumbsup:
 
TO//M said:
Musee d'Orsay is well worth a visit without risking the sensory overload that the Louvre can cause.
Click to expand...

It's free on the first Sunday of the month (as are all the museums) but you may have to queue.
They have a beautiful restaurant on the first floor behind the old station clock, which is a lovely place to have lunch.
Ask for a window table for the views of the River Seine.

tmp_b03e803227214ecae548ec09d7d12160.gif

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/services/restaurants.html
 
MalcZ4 said:
teamemmenracing said:
Moulin Rouge ..... :D
defo a good night out
Click to expand...

Tourist rip-off - it's so touristy, it's naff. :cry:

Did you know that all museums are free on the first Sunday of each month? :thumbsup:
Click to expand...



I'm hurt ....... my feelings have been severely trampled ........ :D

I thought it was proper good laugh - but then I was a tourist and I was full to the brim :D
 
Disneyland! :D

I got taken there on Valentines weekend, the year before last. And I loved it! And there weren't many kids there. It was full of couples and wasn't too busy.
I suppose it depends on how long you are there for but it could be a good day out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom